BNN Summary
The Congress party has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reported new milestone as the longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister, calling it a 'dubious record.' Senior leader Jairam Ramesh accused Modi of presiding over the 'murder of democracy' and being a 'millstone around India's neck.' The party also alleged a 'pathological fixation on Nehru' by the Modi government, accusing it of attempting to erase the legacy of India's first Prime Minister while democratic institutions face unprecedented threats.
In-Depth Analysis
New Delhi, India – The Indian National Congress, on Wednesday, launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dismissing his recent political milestone as a 'dubious record' and accusing his administration of undermining democratic principles. The criticism comes as Prime Minister Modi reportedly surpassed Jawaharlal Nehru to become India's longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister.
Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader and General Secretary in charge of communications, spearheaded the opposition's offensive, asserting that while Modi may have achieved a 'self-proclaimed and dubiously invented milestone,' he has simultaneously become 'a millstone around India's neck.' Ramesh's strong words, delivered via a post on social media platform X, highlighted deep concerns over the state of democracy in the country under the current government. He explicitly accused Prime Minister Modi of presiding over the 'Murder of Democracy' in India.
The Congress leader elaborated on his accusations, stating that the very foundations of India's democracy, including an independent Election Commission and a sacrosanct voter list, are now under threat. Furthermore, Ramesh alleged that the government is actively eroding scientific temper through what he described as the 'destruction of our educational institutions,' citing recent controversies surrounding examinations, such as the NEET-CBSE scandals, as evidence.
A significant part of the Congress's critique focused on what it termed Prime Minister Modi's 'pathological fixation on Nehru.' Ramesh contended that the Modi government is systematically attempting to 'distort, defame and denigrate' the contributions and legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. He argued that the BJP's celebration of Modi's tenure is juxtaposed with an ongoing effort to erase Nehru's pivotal role in nation-building.
Ramesh meticulously detailed the achievements of independent India's first five years under Nehru's leadership (1947-1952), contrasting them sharply with the current political climate. He underscored Nehru's 'stellar Cabinet' and listed monumental accomplishments during that period. These included the peaceful integration of over 560 princely states into the Indian Union, the framing and adoption of the Constitution, the abolition of the zamindari system, and the implementation of reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Additionally, Ramesh highlighted the launch of numerous multi-purpose irrigation-cum-power projects, the establishment of a robust infrastructure for science and technology (including nuclear energy), and India's emergence as a significant voice on the global stage. He also recalled the meticulous preparation of electoral rolls for approximately 170 million voters, leading to India's first general elections between October 1951 and February 1952, a testament to the nation's democratic commitment from its inception.
'The 1947-52 record of achievements of India with Nehru as PM and in which stalwarts like Sardar Patel, Dr. Ambedkar, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad played such a pivotal role is now sought to be erased by Mr. Modi, who has a pathological fixation on Nehru,' Ramesh alleged.
The Congress's condemnation also extended to allegations of weakening educational institutions and diluting reservations through privatization, further cementing their narrative of a government eroding democratic and social safeguards. The party contrasted Modi's electoral mandate with Nehru's record of winning successive general elections in 1952, 1957, and 1962 with decisive majorities.
Prime Minister Modi's milestone, officially making him the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in continuous terms, by surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru's record of 4,398 uninterrupted days in office, was achieved on June 10. Earlier, in July 2025, Modi had also surpassed Indira Gandhi's record for the longest uninterrupted tenure, serving for 4,077 days. He also holds the distinction of being the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete two consecutive full-majority terms and the only leader, apart from Nehru, to win three consecutive general elections as the leader of a political party. Despite these achievements, the Congress remains steadfast in its criticism, arguing that such milestones cannot overshadow the alleged 'murder of democracy' and the systematic efforts to undermine the nation's foundational values.
How do you feel about this story?
